Todd Shockley Claims Victory in 6th Annual 1L Moot Court

March 30, 2010

Liberty University School of Law congratulates Mr. Todd Shockley as tournament champion and Anna Higgins as 1L Runner-Up for the law school’s Sixth Annual 1L Moot Court Tournament held Saturday, March 27, 2010.

“Liberty out shines every moot court I have been to,” stated Honorable Glen Conrad, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, one of nine judges who shared the bench for this year’s tournament. “When it comes to a first year law student competing, I pay more attention to their composure and their ability to translate sound arguments. This year’s competitors did a remarkably good job and are to be congratulated.”

Along with Shockley, the finalists included Anna Higgins, Bobby Toy, and Jennifer Gregorin. All nine judges commented on the performance of each student as well as the quality of the program offered by the law school. “I consider it a privilege to have participated in the final round of one of the top tiered law schools in the country. What I witnessed was an encouragement about the future of our country when Liberty law students take the helm,” said Honorable James Teilborg, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.

This tournament serves as not only a requirement of the law school’s Lawyering Skills program, but valuable experience to each member of the first-year class as they argue numerous times throughout the week representing either Mark Spark or Japan Rocket Manufacturers, the fictional parties in the case before the court.

The bench for the final round consisted of a highly accomplished judiciary including: the Honorable Jonathan Apgar, Virginia 23rd Judicial Circuit (Roanoke); the Honorable Glen Conrad, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia; the Honorable B. Waugh Crigler, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia; the Honorable John Gemmill, Arizona Court of Appeals; the Honorable Shea Nickell, Kentucky Court of Appeals; the Honorable James Teilborg, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona; the Honorable James Turk, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia; the Honorable Raul Zambrano, Florida Seventh Judicial Court; and Professor Scott Thompson.

“I am very pleased with the quality and the commitment of our students. When our students succeed, the law school succeeds,” concluded Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law.